BASEBALL

BASEBALL; Scorecard Not Enough To Know Players

By RAFAEL HERMOSO

Published: December 9, 2003

Baseball paused yesterday, emerging from Sunday's midnight deadline for teams to offer their free agents arbitration with a clearer picture of the landscape for winter meetings this weekend in New Orleans.

Some themes are still playing out. The Texas Rangers, who have discussed trading shortstop Alex Rodriguez to the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Manny Ramirez, have set a soft deadline of next Tuesday, so that story line may play out on Bourbon Street.

Of the 164 remaining free agents, only 25 were offered arbitration by the deadline. Those offered arbitration may continue negotiating with their teams, which will receive compensatory draft picks if the players sign elsewhere.

Among the players who will wear different uniforms next season are outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, who will not return to the Montreal Expos; catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who is leaving the World Series champion Florida Marlins after one year; and Rafael Palmeiro, after his second tour with Texas. Pitcher Greg Maddux was not offered arbitration by the Atlanta Braves, who also let Javy Lopez and Gary Sheffield leave.

''I guess I was surprised at how many and the quality of free agents not offered arbitration,'' said Mets General Manager Jim Duquette, who greeted the team's newest player, shortstop Kazuo Matsui, as he arrived from Japan yesterday. ''But I also think it's an indication of where the market is right now. There were few signings before the deadline, and I think teams value their draft picks. No. 2, a lot of free agents were coming off high salaries that were outdated.''

The Braves could replace Maddux by signing Kevin Millwood, who began his career with Atlanta. But the Philadelphia Phillies offered Millwood arbitration, saying yesterday that their decision was based on re-signing him for next season. If Millwood accepts arbitration by the Dec. 19 deadline, he can receive a raise from his $9.9 million salary this season. The Phillies would prefer that to being tied into a long-term contract.

Sheffield was quoted in SportsWeekly magazine detailing an agreement he had reached with George Steinbrenner, the Yankees' principal owner. Although the Braves did not offer Sheffield arbitration, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported yesterday that they have asked baseball about getting draft picks from the Yankees anyway and may file a grievance if the Yankees have skirted contract-disclosure rules.

Reaction to Guerrero's separation from the Expos was mixed. Some understood that General Manager Omar Minaya could not risk Guerrero's accepting arbitration and receiving a salary that would swallow much of the team's payroll. Others were stunned that the Expos had little to show for losing their two best players; they traded pitcher Javier Vazquez to the Yankees last week.

An owner from another team said yesterday that he was not surprised about Guerrero, who has a history of back trouble and spent a large portion of last season on the disabled list. A team would be unable to get insurance coverage for Guerrero.

The Baltimore Orioles and the Anaheim Angels, who have made only modest moves so far, could be big players at the meetings. Anaheim was close to signing the free-agent pitcher Bartolo Colón, The Associated Press reported yesterday.

''Every winter we're always surprised by something, so I'm sure there's going to be something out there that everyone's going to say, 'Wow!' Ricciardi said. ''But I don't know what it is.''

Ivan Rodriguez and the Marlins negotiated through Sunday, when Florida increased the value of its offer. Rodriguez was seeking a four-year contract with an annual salary equal to the $10 million, one-year contract he signed last winter. But he will be on the move again.

Another flood of players will enter the market on Dec. 20, the deadline for teams to offer contracts to their unsigned players. Some executives expect a rush of activity before then.

Baseball has granted the Red Sox permission to speak with Alex Rodriguez as they try to figure how they can pay his $25 million annual salary and still help the Rangers pay part of Manny Ramirez's $20 million salary.

The Red Sox have grown sensitive to the repercussions of their talks with Texas and Rodriguez. If they get Rodriguez, they will try to trade shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. Garciaparra's agent, Arn Tellem, told The Boston Globe that reading newspaper reports of Henry's talks with Rodriguez were a ''complete slap in the face.''

Tellem said Boston had been disingenuous by saying that the Rangers were driving news of the trade.